Mr Ricco told the court in New York: “Although I have provided Sean Combs with the high level of legal representation expected by the court, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs.
Mr Ricco, as his defence lawyer, managed to get his sentence commuted to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
In 2004, the New York County Lawyers Association, Criminal Defense Division awarded Mr Ricco with the Outstanding Contribution to the Profession award.
The lawyer also defended Jelani Soloman, who was accused of drug and murder charges, and successfully argued for a life sentence instead of the death penalty in her case as well.
He was also counsel for Detective Gescard Isnora in the controversial Sean Bell case, the man who was shot and killed by undercover New York City Police Department officers in the borough of Queens in 2006.
